Awards and Grants
Awards and Grants
Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award
Endowed by the generosity from David & Victoria Chang, Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award is made annually to recognize the life's work of those who inspire excellence in the field of global cataract surgery. The Award highlights unseen superstars of humanitarian eye care- the sight-givers who have dedicated lifetimes to helping individual patients and to changing the world.
Operation Sight Grant
The ASCRS Foundation's Operation Sight Grant program supports organizations and practices with charitable cataract programs who have (1) a verified 501(c)(3) status or (2) an affiliation with a verified 501(c)(3) organization. The grant is intended to support local organizations to expand access to free cataract care to underserved patient populations, who meet or exceed the Operation Sight patient criteria.
Resident Excellence Award
The ASCRS Foundation makes ten awards annually to enable ophthalmology residents exhibiting exemplary performance to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting. The categories for consideration include research, patient care, leadership and education. Recipients receive a travel grant, four nights accommodation, complimentary meeting registration and invitations to select leadership and social events.
Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant
The Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eye care on a long-term basis. The grant affords the opportunity to participate in health care systems, including teaching institutions and community programs, in developing countries. Working with the ASCRS Foundation and its international partners, recipients get to develop a customized international volunteer plan that provides the opportunity for a young eye surgeon to learn first-hand the intricacies behind global eye care efforts.
Volunteer of the Year Spotlight
“I think we all have that desire to help people. I think that’s why most of us went into medicine. I think Operation Sight really provides the way for us to do that easily. Operation Sight provides a lot of legwork that might be a barrier to volunteering.”
Andrew Kao, MD, practices at Empire Eye and Laser Center in Bakersfield, California, and also performs surgery at the Advanced Center for Eyecare (ACE, a nonprofit in that area). Being originally from this area, he knows the community and the needs of patients that he sees on a daily basis. Dr. Kao was drawn to humanitarian work from early on in his career.
Dr. Kao was recognized as the 2024 Operation Sight Volunteer of the Year. He became involved with Operation Sight several years ago. He continues to work to provide charitable cataract surgery through Operation Sight, and other charitable ophthalmic surgery with ACE.
About the Foundation Financials & Disclosures
The ASCRS Foundation supports physician education and provides humanitarian cataract surgery in the United States and developing countries. Through its programs and partnerships, the Foundation works to maximize the benefits of modern ophthalmology and to treat thousands of patients in need each year. The ASCRS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN: 23-7388748.